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Watch on RTÉ Player: The Department, The Data & The Disclosure

RTÉ Investigates reports on how the Department of Health has secretly used information from private doctor consultations to build dossiers on children with autism who were involved in legal actions against the State.

RTÉ Player • 13 May 21

Two recent reports published by the Department of Health leave a lot of questions unanswered

Autism dossiers: The unanswered questions from reports

Two reports appear to indicate there are no significant causes for concern in relation to allegations that the Department of Health built dossiers on autistic children. But they leave a lot of questions unanswered.

investigations unit • 13 May 21

Whistleblower Shane Corr is a senior civil servant in the Department of Health

Dept of Health publishes two whistleblower reviews

The Department of Health has published two reviews assessing allegations made by a whistleblower who disclosed the keeping of dossiers on children with autism.

investigations unit • 13 May 21

The Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters said it had 'grave concern' about the allegations

Autism dossiers could be UN breach - Committee

The Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters said the compiling of dossiers on children with autism could be a "significant breach" of a United Nations convention.

investigations unit • 13 May 21

HIQA said that the HSE was not taking action to address issues in nursing homes

HSE failed to address significant nursing home breaches

The HSE has failed to address significant breaches of regulations in nursing homes it runs for older people and is in breach of its legal responsibilities, according to HIQA.

investigations unit • 12 Apr 21

Information gathered was "very personal", "sensitive" and at times "distressing"

Dept held 'sensitive' info on children – expert review

An expert review commissioned after a whistleblower raised concerns about dossiers on autistic children confirms that the Department of Health gathered "very personal" and "sensitive" information.

investigations unit • 13 May 21

Dossiers were built and maintained by the Department of Health without the knowledge or consent of parents

DPC probe over dept dossiers on children with autism

The Data Protection Commissioner has begun a statutory inquiry into the handling of sensitive personal information by the Department of Health.

Ireland • 30 Mar 21

Dossiers including sensitive medical information of children involved in long-dormant court cases were built by the Department of Health without the knowledge or consent of parents

Irish Medical Council 'concerned' over secret dossiers

The Irish Medical Council has expressed "great concern" at revelations in a report by RTÉ Investigates that clinical information was shared with the Department of Health without patient's knowledge or consent.

investigations unit • 13 May 21

The man exposing the Dept of Health's secret dossiers

Shane Corr discovered sensitive departmental records on children with autism who were involved in legal actions against the State.

investigations unit • 13 May 21

The dossiers could erode the trust that is at the core of the system that supports autistic children

Why secret dossiers are breach of trust for parents

Revelations about secret Department of Health dossiers could erode the trust that is at the core of the system that supports autistic children.

investigations unit • 25 Mar 21

Dept of Health built dossiers on children with autism

The Department of Health has been secretly using private information to build and maintain dossiers on children with autism who were involved in legal actions against the State.

investigations unit • 13 May 21

Dept of Health Dossiers

Watch on RTÉ Player: The Department, The Data & The Disclosure

Autism dossiers: The unanswered questions from reports

Dept of Health publishes two whistleblower reviews

Autism dossiers could be UN breach - Committee

HSE failed to address significant nursing home breaches

Dept held 'sensitive' info on children – expert review

DPC probe over dept dossiers on children with autism

Irish Medical Council 'concerned' over secret dossiers

The man exposing the Dept of Health's secret dossiers

Why secret dossiers are breach of trust for parents

Dept of Health built dossiers on children with autism

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